Responding to reports of job losses at Jaguar Land Rover and the sharp fall in sales during the Christmas trading period, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

“With the high street reporting its worst December in a decade and retailers from John Lewis and Marks & Spencer to Debenhams and Sainsbury’s all feeling the pain, it is clear we have arrived at a moment of reckoning for our economy.

“The damage isn’t limited to the high street either, with Jaguar Land Rover set to cut 5,000 jobs at sites across the country, and Japanese investors warning about the threat of a Brexit to their operations.

“It is beyond doubt that the Conservative Government’s botched Brexit is contributing to this mess. While John Lewis staff look set to miss out on their Christmas bonus this year, the Government could give the whole country an economic boost by giving the people the final say on the deal, with the option to Exit from Brexit.”